I'm not pushing for the return of the Fairness Doctrine per se.
Of course not. Just something like it, as soon as you figure out what it is.
I am just saying that we swung from one extreme to the other and
What extremes? In 60 years we’ve gone from maybe two dozen opinion outlets to thousands of them, and getting your opinion in front of an audience is easier than ever. You think this is a bad thing? Opinion journalism is better now than ever before in history. I have a feeling that your definition of ‘extreme’ is ‘something you disagree with.’
--coupled with the general lack of concern from today's broadcast ownership-- ushered in a new era of irresponsibility whereby these hosts can exist.
How so? Have any specific examples, or is this just your gut feeling. Do you really think owners and groups don’t care if a host says something actionable?
Talk show hosts give opinions, it is their brand. As Limbaugh once said when asked about his not taking many callers, “this show is about what I think, not what you think.”
Here's an example: A station that I know of has a typical "bad boy" morning show.
Ummm….you think we need a federal law against air talent being assh*les? We have some, they are called slander and libel statutes.
By the way, what station, what morning show, and when did this supposedly happen? Throw in the city and state while you’re at it. Thanks.
At one point, the host made a remark about a grocery store near the station being run by "Muslims". He ranted about them, how they are rude, etc etc. Then he said something like "and I am sure they are terrorists". The next day, the owner of the store arrived to front window smashed and the words "terrorist go home" spray painted on his wall.
Of course. Just like in the movies. No Koran burning? You should have started with “Once upon a time…” This is the kind of story that makes CAIR think they've died and gone to heaven.
The owner called the morning show to explain that he is Lebanese and a Christian! The host refused to put him on. He then called the GM, and the GM told him "hey, that's life....go ahead a sue us, we've got eight floors of lawyers".
I bet you think GMs actually talk like that. You left out the part about how the GM called the station owner and said “I’m going to blow a million bucks defending a suit which we can’t win brought by some towelhead whose business was destroyed by our morning guy. The legal fees, settlement, and nationwide bad press, not to mention the pissed off Muslims and Christians, and the bad will in the local business community, will destroy us. On the bright side, the station building would make a nice Kinkos.
Perhaps you mean that the GM though that lawsuits are decided based on who has the most floors of lawyers. If this had actually happened, that store owner would have had every legal heavyweight from Gerry Spence to Harvey Silverglate standing in line to take it for free. I’ll give you a heads up….stations HATE to be sued when it is going to make them look bad.
The newspaper carried a little story on the back page. For whatever reason, the store is now gone.
I bet. Like dust in the wind. What paper carried that story on its back page (which is actually a prime location, ask anyone trying to buy a backpage ad.) If this story was real, it would have made the media column of the NY Times.
Again...listen...I am not advocating pointless government control.
Since the Fairness Doctrine is a cure for which there is no known disease, pointless government control is the only kind.
But you must admit, in this "anything goes" world of radio today, what can you do about some morning show punk attacking you by name and disrupting your life and you have no recourse but to go to the papers and/or file an expensive lawsuit?
But those would be the only options even if the Fairness Doctrine was in force. So what is your point, other than you don’t understand the topic?
A station will fall over itself trying to avoid both the bad ink and the expensive lawsuit (which will cost the plaintiff nothing.) I know you think that this is how it really have played out under your fabricated fairy tale but you would be wrong. Life doesn’t work like that in the radio biz.
I look forward to the cites. Tracking them down will give this old retired geezer something to do. Thanks in advance.
Regards,
TSB
